Nikola Corporation and Plug Power announced a strategic relationship focused on moving the H₂ economy forward. The Nikola Tre fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is an industry leading, H₂-powered cabover for longer or continuous metro-regional applications and is expected to have a range of up to 500 miles.

Plug will purchase up to 75 Nikola Tre FCEVs over the next three years, with the first trucks being delivered in 2023. The Nikola trucks will help to deliver green H₂ to customers in North America as part of Plug’s commitment to advancing the decarbonization of energy. The acquired FCEVs will be paired with Plug’s liquid H₂ tankers, which are recognized as market-leading trailers manufactured with unprecedented over-the-road payloads.

Nikola’s recently announced H₂ hub project, located in the City of Buckeye, Ariz., is going through a permitting and rezoning process, with the procurement of long-lead equipment also underway. Plug has been selected to provide its fully integrated liquefaction system for the project which will be engineered to produce 30 metric-tpd in its first phase, scaling up to 150 metric-tpd. The low carbon H₂ supply from the hub will further support the deployment of the Nikola Tre FCEV program and Nikola’s H₂ energy business.

The companies have also executed a 125 metric-tpd green H₂ supply agreement. This innovative green H₂ supply and offtake partnership is expected to provide Nikola with a minimum of 100 metric-tpd of H₂, with the option to increase volume over time, and will allow Nikola to source H₂ from multiple locations across the country as Plug continues to bring on new supply facilities.

“Nikola and Plug share a common vision for sustainable, efficient, energy solutions which supports our commitment to decarbonize the transportation industry,” said Nikola President, Energy, Carey Mendes. “This strategic relationship will help underpin Nikola’s ambitious growth plans to expand the hydrogen energy business and to support the adoption of Nikola’s zero-emission Class 8 trucks.”

“Today's announcement demonstrates Plug’s leadership in the green hydrogen economy and its ability to make the adoption of hydrogen as easy as possible by aligning with industry pioneers, such as Nikola,” said Sanjay Shrestha, CSO and General Manager of Energy Solutions for Plug. “Our vertically integrated solutions, which are designed to fit individual customer needs, include hydrogen production equipment or the delivery of hydrogen fuel, whichever is preferred. We look forward to our strategic relationship with Nikola as we advance the hydrogen economy together.”